7. Where or how does ambiguity come into play in a reader's experience? How might ambiguity work within a piece of literature (or art of any kind?) How does it impact our understanding, and appreciation of a text?
The ambiguity of a text helps expand the reader's minds by opening up all of the new possibilities by making it known that there are multiple ways they can interpret the text. A reader needs to be able to look at a text and see the different directions the story can go in because there is not always one correct answer. When a text is ambiguous one single view of the text can turn into many different views based on the different readers and how they have individually developed their relationships with the text. When someone begins to read they need to be able to make their own connections that aren't based on how other's connect to the text. When readers have different views on a text they can all come together and discuss their views and how they came to see them. These discussions can expand all of the reader's ideas of the text and hearing others views can make them see the text in a way they may have never thought to look.
I really like this idea about a reader's "relationship with a text." It makes this writing/reading connection so human and so powerful. I think our class is all about nurturing that relationship!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea about readers developing an individual connection with the text. This makes the concept of reading and understanding more intimate because you have your own interpretation and ideas that only you will fully understand. Also, I definitely agree with the idea that ambiguity is most important for discussion. If everyone had the same view point, then there could be no deeper thinking and complex discussions. Open interpretations allow the sharing of different ideas that can then stem into new ones allowing for a more complex understanding of a text. The idea that one view point can turn into many makes the whole idea of literature and symbols even more deeper and complex.
ReplyDeleteKamryn,
ReplyDeleteI also choose this prompt due to the power of the connection between the reader and the text. I like your idea of readers individually building relationships. I feel that makes the whole reading experience more special to the reader. When we have a class assignment, such as this one, my favorite part is the discussion because I love to see how others have interpreted the text and question myself of how I could better understand what the author was trying to explain. Last year, in AP Lit, when we all sat in a circle to talk I could see how much everyone grew as readers to understand the text. Ambiguity is extreamly important in litature to not only help understand, but also how to connect and bring in different ideas that have not even crossed my mind.
I meant to say AP Lang, sorry!
DeleteFirst of all, I love Cassidy’s mentioning of our Socratic Seminars, because I completely agree. Seeing and hearing everyone’s different interpretations of the text aided in making that such an enriching experience for me. It was one of my favorite aspects of the class last year for that reason. That being said, I agree that we need to be able to develop our own connections with the text. If I have learned anything from Foster’s book, it is that reading is meant to be a personal experience, meant to be between the reader and the writer alone. However, it also important, as you said, to come together and discuss those connections with others. Through hearing the different yet equally personal connections and interpretations of the text, our knowledge and appreciation of what we are reading is greatly enhanced.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you just said. I think that you have a really strong understanding of the concept, and it almost seems as though it is natural for you to be able to explain it to other people. I like how you included that it entirely depends upon how one reader connects to the text because everyone has a different way of thinking. While two people may think the same way, others might not. Some might only be able to form one, clear connection while others might have anywhere from five to ten, maybe even more. You did a really good job at explaining this.
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